Bazel

The Wissekerke Castle is situated in the village of Bazel of Kruibeke municipality in the East Flanders province of Belgium. Although a castle stood at this site since 10th century, the present castle was largely built in the 15th century with lake, park and a suspension bridge. The suspension bridge by the castle is one of the oldest surviving wrought iron suspension bridges in Europe and was designed in 1824 by Jean-Baptiste Vifquain, an engineer from BrusselsMany famous people lived at Wissekerke castle, including the influential family of Vilain XIIII. For 139 years the members of this family were the mayors of Bazel. Through the centuries the castle has been rebuilt and renovated. The most important building works were completed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Most of the present architecture recalls 19th century neo-gothic style. The major interior features also date from this period. The castle, the gatehouse, the iron suspension bridge and the pigeon tower were listed as monuments in 1981. In 1989 the castle was purchased by the town of Kruibeke, which has since handled the restoration work. The castle is also venue to many cultural activities, tours and exhibitions. In spite of the modest span of 23 meters, the bridge is of great industrial archaeological value, because of its historical and structural uniqueness. Since 1981, the bridge at Bazel has been a protected historic monument.

Kruibeke (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkrœy̯beːkə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Bazel, Kruibeke proper and Rupelmonde. On 1 January 2018, Kruibeke had a total population of 16,657. The total area is 33.42 km².The oldest secular centre of the area is the feudal castle of Wissekerke at Bazel, which was inhabited by the ancient family Vilain until 1989. In March 2003, the mayor at that time Antoine Denert set up the Department of Tenderness to encourage residents to be nicer to each other. Denert worried that "people don't cuddle anymore and that's the reason why there are so many conflicts." and announced: "I will set an example and start in my own village by caressing, cuddling and kissing as many people as possible." He officially added Tenderness to his alderman portfolio of duties, until then Work, Environment and Budget. As of 26 August 2004, no other civic governments have adopted this idea. Jos Stassen has been the active mayor since the 2013 elections. He leads a majority composed of SamenVoorKruibeke (sp.a, Groen! and Open VLD) and CD&V. Their combined efforts gave them a majority over the largest party, N-VA, led by former mayor Antoine Denert.

Rupelmonde is a village in the municipality of Kruibeke, in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It stands on the bank of the river Schelde opposite the confluence of the eponymous Rupel, and is famed for its sundials as well as having what is probably Belgium's only tidemill. It is the birthplace of Gerardus Mercator, the Flemish cartographer, who was imprisoned for several months in the castle there, a remnant of which today serves as a museum. The town holds a procession of civic giants on the first Sunday of August each year.

The Rupel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrypəl]) is a tidal river in northern Belgium, right tributary of the Scheldt. It is about 12 kilometres (7 mi) long. It flows through the Belgian province of Antwerp. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Dijle and Nete, in Rumst. It flows into the Scheldt at Schelle. Towns along the Rupel are Rumst, Boom, Niel and Schelle. The Rupel is navigable, and forms part of the waterway to Brussels. The Rupelian Age of the Oligocene Epoch in the geological time scale is named after this river.

St. Bernard's Abbey, Hemiksem, or abbatiae S. Bernardi ad Scaldim, ordinis Cisterciensis, in dioecesi Antverpiensi also known as St. Bernard's Abbey on the Scheldt (Sint-Bernardusabdij van Hemiksem; Abdij Sint-Bernaerdts aan de Schelde), located in Hemiksem in the province of Antwerp in Belgium, was a Cistercian monastery founded in 1243 and dissolved during the French Revolution. The buildings are now the property of the municipality of Hemiksem.

Schelle is also the German name for Šaľa, Slovakia. Schelle (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsxɛlə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schelle proper. In 2021, Schelle had a total population of 8,559. The total area is 7.80 km².

Niel (Dutch pronunciation: [nil]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Niel proper. In 2021, Niel had a total population of 10.493. The total area is 5.27 km².

Hemiksem (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦeːmɪksɛm], historical spellings Heymissen and Hemixem) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Hemiksem proper. In 2021, Hemiksem had a total population of 11,722. The total area is 5.44 km².

D'Ursel Castle (Dutch: Kasteel van Hingene, also known as the Kasteel d'Ursel) used to be the private summer residence of the Duke of Ursel in Hingene in the municipality of Bornem, province of Antwerp, Belgium. Today it is property of the State, and opened to the public.

Hingene is a village and deelgemeente (sub-municipality) of the municipality of Bornem in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The village is bordered to the north by the Scheldt and to the east by the Rupel. It is located about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) south-west of the city of Antwerp.

Burcht is a village within the municipality of Zwijndrecht located in the Flemish province of Antwerp, in Belgium.

Beveren (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbeːvərə(n)] ) is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders which comprises the towns of Beveren, Doel, Haasdonk, Kallo, Kieldrecht, Melsele, Verrebroek and Vrasene. The port of the Waasland (Dutch: Waaslandhaven) is in Beveren, on the left bank of the Schelde, facing the port of Antwerp on the other side of the river.